Middle Tennessee State University is responding to an influx of film and television productions coming to the Nashville area with a new academic program set to launch this fall.

Why it matters: Elected officials have worked for years to build the region's film production bona fides. The MTSU program seeks to create a workforce pipeline that can power those productions.

The latest: The new program, a masters in fine arts focused on film and television, recently got unanimous approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, clearing the way for the first group of 15 students to begin their studies this year.

• It is the first program of its kind at a public university in Tennessee.

Driving the news: The program arrives during a boom time for productions in Nashville. New TV shows "9-1-1: Nashville" and "Scarpetta" both filmed here.

• Nicole Kidman recently said she and Reese Witherspoon want to bring more productions to town.

By the numbers: Film and TV productions in Tennessee employed more than 6,100 people in 2024, according to a report from the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. That figure has grown over time.

• The report found the workforce had expanded by 11% since 2019, making Tennessee the fifth-biggest state for entertainment production jobs.

Between the lines: MTSU professor Allie Sultan, who is the founding director of the MFA program in film and television, tells Axios the program was conceived as a workforce development initiative.

• Industry pros helped shape a curriculum that would feed into new production jobs.

What she's saying: The goal is "developing the next generation of film and TV creators."

Zoom in: Undergraduate students at MTSU can already hone their skills working with cameras, editing and special effects, among other things.

• The graduate program will build on those popular courses by creating a more immersive, workshop-oriented environment that will prepare students to manage their own productions.

Students will have access to advanced classes such as episodic series production, virtual filmmaking, production design and aerial cinematography. They will work with the same LED technology that was used to produce "Dune" and "The Mandalorian."

The intrigue: The MFA in film and television will also address the growing use of AI in the industry. Sultan says students will learn the practical applications of AI while also considering ethical implications of the rapidly evolving technology.

The bottom line: As film and TV production continues to push outside of traditional hubs like Los Angeles, Sultan sees opportunity for Middle Tennessee.

• "There's a lot happening in Middle Tennessee," she says. "We're really excited about building this here and adding to what's already really a strong outlook for production."

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Mayor Freddie O'Connell rebuked the Metro Council yesterday for not passing his plan to give Nashvillians credits on their water bills.

Why it matters: Rate payers won't see the nearly $26 credit, which O'Connell proposed as financial relief following the January ice storm.

• The narrow vote was a notable defeat in the council for O'Connell.

What he's saying: In a rare statement following a council meeting, O'Connell called it "an incredibly disappointing outcome after a devastating weather event.

• "At a time when people are hurting from higher prices everywhere coupled with winter storm damage costs, this council couldn't see fit to return $26 to every Nashvillian," he said. "Metro has tightened its belt multiple times, and Water assured us they could, too."

Driving the news: The legislation failed by a vote of 16 in favor, 18 opposed.

By the numbers: The proposal would have cost Metro about $6 million.

Flashback: The O'Connell administration, including top water department official Scott Potter, told residents to drip their water faucets to help prevent bursting pipes during and after the winter storm.

• O'Connell introduced legislation that would provide across-the-board credits on a future water bill.

The other side: Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston was a vocal critic of the plan, arguing the credit was unnecessary for the majority of water customers who didn't see higher bills as a result of the storm.

• She also contended the proposal didn't do enough to help residents whose bills did go up.
• Johnston worried that the extra expenses incurred by Metro water from the storm could lead to a rate increase.
• She favored a more targeted approach by directing federal relief funds to utility bill relief programs under the Metro Action Commission.

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🏀 Tennessee State extended the contract of men's basketball coach Nolan Smith after he led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years. (Nashville Post)

💰 Tennessee lawmakers approved a new state disaster relief fund to help fill in the gaps when federal support falls short. (Tennessee Lookout)

👀 Developer Tony Giarratana opened a sales gallery yesterday for downtown's Paramount tower, which features a 7.5-foot scale model of the new skyscraper. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

Press Forward, a national initiative to strengthen local news, is launching a Middle Tennessee chapter.

Why it matters: The effort brings together funders, residents and news leaders in hopes of backing improvements to the local news ecosystem.

The big picture: The national Press Forward movement is a philanthropic effort to "reimagine and support" local news.

• The initiative has steered millions of dollars in grant funding to local news outlets, especially nonprofit newsrooms.

Zoom in: Press Forward Middle Tennessee will begin its work by researching where local news gaps exist.

• The initiative is housed in the nonprofit Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.